Panethnic Differences in Blood Pressure in Europe: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND: People of Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asians(SA) ethnic minorities living in Europe have higher risk of stroke than native Europeans(EU). Study objective is to provide an assessment of gender specific absolute differences in office systolic(SBP) and diastolic(DBP) blood pressure(BP) levels between SSA, SA, and EU. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies conducted in Europe that examined BP in non-selected adult SSA, SA and EU subjects. Medline, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched from their inception through January 31st 2015, for relevant articles. Outcome measures were mean SBP and DBP differences between minorities and EU, using a random effects model and tested for heterogeneity. Twenty-one studies involving 9,070 SSA, 18,421 SA, and 130,380 EU were included. Compared with EU, SSA had higher values of both SBP (3.38 mmHg, 95% CI 1.28 to 5.48 mmHg; and 6.00 mmHg, 95% CI 2.22 to 9.78 in men and women respectively) and DBP (3.29 mmHg, 95% CI 1.80 to 4.78; 5.35 mmHg, 95% CI 3.04 to 7.66). SA had lower SBP than EU(-4.57 mmHg, 95% CI -6.20 to -2.93; -2.97 mmHg, 95% CI -5.45 to -0.49) but similar DBP values. Meta-analysis by subgroup showed that SA originating from countries where Islam is the main religion had lower SBP and DBP values than EU. In multivariate meta-regression analyses, SBP difference between minorities and EU populations, was influenced by panethnicity and diabetes prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: 1) The higher BP in SSA is maintained over decades, suggesting limited efficacy of prevention strategies in such group in Europe;2) The lower BP in Muslim populations suggests that yet untapped lifestyle and behavioral habits may reveal advantages towards the development of hypertension;3) The additive effect of diabetes, emphasizes the need of new strategies for the control of hypertension in groups at high prevalence of diabetes

Management Challenges Of Pediatric Infective Endocarditis At Tertiary Level In Rwanda

Background: Management of Infective Endocarditis (IE) has been of great challenge for many years. Rapid diagnosis, effective treatment, and prompt recognition of complications are essential to good patient outcome as this condition is associated with a high morbidity and mortality in both adults and pediatric patients. In limited resources settings, management of IE is still a challenge due to early inappropriate antibiotherapy and therefore difficulties in its diagnosis and treatment. Objectives: To elicit challenges in management of patients suspected of IE at tertiary level in Rwanda. Methods: We report four patients with IE. For these patients, Duke’s criteria were considered in making the diagnosis. Results and Conclusion: IE has protean clinical symptoms and signs, and can be of challenging diagnosis. The patients reported constituted a clinical challenge in the diagnosis and management of IE but most of them had had favorable outcome. The main clinical challenge was the prolonged stay to peripheral settings with inappropriate antibiotherapy which made most of the blood cultures falsely negative. Echocardiography and serial blood cultures provide the key to diagnosis as per Dukes criteria. Being alert to this mentioned challenge is crucial. As the key investigations are not steadily available in most peripheral health facilities, we strongly recommend early referral to tertiary level for all cases of suspected IE before initiation of antibiotherapy.Introduction: Depuis plusieurs années, la prise en charge de l’endocardite bactérienne constitue un grand défi. Cette affection étant associée à une importante morbidité et mortalité tant chez l’adulte que chez l’enfant, un diagnostic rapide, un traitement efficace, et une reconnaissance rapide de complications sont des éléments essentiels pour arriver à un bon résultat thérapeutique. Dans les pays où les ressources sont limitées, la prise en charge de l’endocardite reste difficile en raison de l’antibiothérapie inappropriée initiée préalablement au niveau des structures sanitaires de base. Objectif: Identifier les défis dans la prise en charge des patients présentant une endocardite bactérienne au niveau des structures sanitaires tertiaires du Rwanda. Méthodes: Nous rapportons quatre patients qui présentaient une endocardite bactérienne. Pour tous ces patients, les critères de Duke ont été utilisés pour poser le diagnostic. Résultats et conclusion: L’endocardite infectieuse a des formes cliniques variables et peut rendre le diagnostic difficile. Bien que presque tous les patients reportés dans cette étude ont été traités avec succès, leur prise en charge n’a pas été facile d’emblée. Le plus grand défi a été un séjour prolongé sous antibiothérapie probabiliste a l’Hôpital de District, ce qui a rendu la plupart des hémocultures faussement négatives au niveau tertiaire. L’échocardiographie et une série d’au moins 3 hémocultures constituent les éléments clés des critères de Duke pour le diagnostic de l’endocardite bactérienne. Par conséquent, il est crucial pour les cliniciens de tenir compte de ces critères pour poser le diagnostic d’endocardite. Compte tenu de l’absence de moyens pour faire les hémocultures et une échocardiographie au niveau des hôpitaux de district, nous recommandons un transfert rapide au niveau de l’hôpital de référence pour tout cas suspect d’endocardite bactérienne avant d’initier l’antibiothérapie

Limited internal shocks for atrial fibrillation refractory to external cardioversion

We investigated the feasibility and long-term results of low-energy internal defibrillation using a Limited number of shocks in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation resistant to external cardioversion. A relatively high number of shocks of lower energy are usually required in those cases and can be poorly tolerated. Methods and results: Twenty-five patients with persistent atrial fibrillation underwent internal defibrination, using biphasic R wave synchronous shocks between two catheters in the high right atrium and the coronary sinus. Conversion to sinus rhythm was obtained in all patients, with a median of two shocks. Early recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) occurred in eight cases (32%). Seven patients (41%) out of 17 discharged in sinus rhythm remained free of AF after a median follow-up of 8.9 months. Severe mitral insufficiency (P=0.05) and low left ventricle ejection fraction (P=0.002) were correlated with earlier recurrence. Amiodarone significantly favored (P=0.019) maintenance of sinus rhythm. Conclusion: Internal defibrillation using a limited number of shocks equal to or less than 30 Joules is effective in terminating refractory atrial fibrillation and could be more acceptable for patients. However, the recurrence rate remains high, particularly in patients with severe mitral insufficiency or poor ventricular function. Amiodarone delays recurrences of atrial fibrillation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Patients With Noonan Syndrome Phenotype: Spectrum Of Clinical Features And Congenital Heart Defect

Mutations in components of the RAS-MAPK signaling pathway have been reported to result in an expression of Noonan phenotype. This is actually a wide-spectrum-phenotype shared by Noonan syndrome and its clinically related disorders namely, the Cranio-facio-cutaneous (CFC) syndrome, Costillo syndrome as well as LEOPARD syndrome. Patients with Noonan Syndrome (NS) have mutations in PTPN11 gene in majority of cases. Recently, mutations in SOS1, RAF1, MEK1 and KRAS genes have been reported to cause NS as well. Objective: To report patients with a Noonan phenotype followed in Rwandan University Teaching Hospitals, and to show the importance of the clinical diagnosis and challenges of making the diagnosis in resource limited settings where karyotype is almost the only genetic investigation accessible. Patients and Methods: Here we are reporting 5 patients, all with relevant NS symptoms, whose morbidity is directly related to the severity of their congenital heart disease. Van der burgt et al diagnostic criteria have been used for the clinical diagnosis, karyotype studies have been performed to exclude chromosomal aberration disorders and patients DNA extraction for mutation studies have been obtained in some cases. Results and Conclusion: we identified 5 patients with clinical features highly suggestive of NS and all of them had a normal karyotype, this excluding Turner syndrome, a clinically similar syndrome. As there are many as yet discovered mutations causing NS and the famous PTPN11 mutation being present only in 50% of cases, we maintain here that NS diagnosis should be a clinical diagnosis. The morbidity and mortality of our patients were directly correlated to the severity of their congenital cardiac defect. In conclusion, early management of such patients is highly recommended.Les mutations impliquant la voie de transduction RAS-MAPK ont étaient reconnues identifiées comme causant un « phénotype du syndrome Noonan ». Ceci est en effet un phénotype de spectre très large, partagé entre le syndrome de Noonan et d’autres conditions cliniquement semblable notamment le syndrome Crânio-Facio-Cutané (CFC), le syndrome de Costillo ainsi que le syndrome de LEOPARD. Les patients atteints du syndrome de Noonan ont des mutations dans le gène PTPN11 dans la majorité des cas. Récemment, les mutations impliquant les gènes SOS1, RAF1, MEK1 et KRAS ont étaient caractérisées comme étant aussi impliquées dans le développement du syndrome de Noonan. Objectifs: rapporter des patients atteints du syndrome de Noonan suivis dans nos hôpitaux universitaires et montrer l’importance du diagnostic clinique ainsi que le défi à faire le diagnostique dans un contexte où les ressources sont limitées, seul le karyotype étant presque le test génétique accessible. Résultats et Conclusion nous avons identifié 5 patients avec un tableau clinique suggestif du syndrome de Noonan et chez qui le karyotype a été normal, ceci excluant le syndrome de Turner qui mime la clinique du syndrome de Noonan. Compte tenu du fait qu’il y a beaucoup de mutations causant le syndrome de Noonan et les mutation du gène PTPN11 n’étant présentes que dans 50% des cas, nous plaidons pour l’importance du diagnostique clinique. La morbidité et mortalité des patients signalés dans cette revue étaient directement liées à la sévérité de leurs cardiopathies congénitales. En conclusion, une prise en charge précoce de tels patients devrait être recommandée

Early balloon dilatation of the pulmonary valve in infants with tetralogy of Fallot. Risks and benefits.

BACKGROUND: Balloon dilatation, an established treatment for pulmonary valve stenosis, remains a controversial procedure in tetralogy of Fallot. METHODS AND RESULTS: Balloon dilatation of the pulmonary valve was performed in 19 infants with tetralogy of Fallot. Its effects on the severity of cyanosis, the growth of the pulmonary valve and pulmonary arteries, and the need for transannular patching were evaluated. Clinical, echographic, angiographic, hemodynamic, and operative data were analyzed. The procedure was safe in all, without significant complications. After balloon dilatation, systemic oxygen saturation increased from a mean value of 79% to 90%. This increase proved to be short-lasting in 4 patients, who required surgery before the age of 6 months. Balloon dilatation increased pulmonary annulus size in each case, from a mean value of 4.9 to 6.9 mm (P < .001). This gain in size remained stable over time, with a mean Z score of -4.8 SD before dilatation, -3.1 SD immediately after the procedure, and -2.7 SD at preoperative catheterization (P < .001). Pulmonary artery dimensions remained unchanged immediately after balloon dilatation but increased at follow-up from a Z score mean value of -2.5 to -0.06 SD and from -2.2 to 0.04 SD for right and left pulmonary arteries, respectively (P < .001). At the time of corrective surgery, the pulmonary annulus was considered large enough to avoid a transannular patch in 69% of the infants. This represented a 30% to 40% reduction in the need for a transannular patch compared with the incidence of transannular patch expected before balloon dilatation. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary valve dilatation in infants with tetralogy of Fallot is a relatively safe procedure and appears to produce adequate palliation in most patients. It allowed the growth of the pulmonary annulus and of the pulmonary arteries, resulting in a mean gain of 2 SD for those structures

Effective prevention of atrial fibrillation by continuous atrial overdrive pacing after coronary artery bypass surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The present study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a specific algorithm with continuous atrial dynamic overdrive pacing to prevent atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation occurs in 30% to 40% of patients after cardiac surgery with a peak incidence on the second day. It still represents a challenge for postoperative prevention and treatment and may have medical and cost implications. METHODS: Ninety-six consecutive patients undergoing CABG for severe coronary artery disease and in sinus rhythm without antiarrhythmic therapy on the second postoperative day were randomized to have or not 24 h of atrial pacing through temporary epicardial wires using a permanent dynamic overdrive algorithm. Holter ECGs recorded the same day in both groups were analyzed to detect AF occurrence. RESULTS: No difference was observed in baseline data between the two study groups, particularly for age, male gender, history of AF, ventricular function, severity of coronary artery disease, preoperative beta-adrenergic blocking agent therapy or P-wave duration. The incidence of AF was significantly lower (p = 0.036) in the paced group (10%) compared with control subjects (27%). Multivariate analysis showed AF incidence to increase with age (p = 0.051) but not in patients with pacing (p = 0.078). It decreased with a better left ventricular ejection fraction only in conjunction with atrial pacing (p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that continuous atrial pacing with an algorithm for dynamic overdrive reduces significantly incidence of AF the second day after CABG surgery, particularly in patients with preserved left ventricular function